a call to prioritise internet infrastructure, systems and skills development across the Pacific Islands

Category Archives: Food Security

The Rationale for Affordable Broadband in the Pacific Islands: Food Security

Local food resources

Introduction

Remote Pacific Island communities are at risk of a long-term problem with food security because they are unable to engage in regional and global knowledge sharing and services enabled by affordable, broadband-speed Internet.

It is our contention that broadband access, systems and skills capacity development represents an important investment for the long term food security of Pacific Island communities.

Risks

According to the World Health Organisation (see Reference A below) there are three pillars of food security to be considered:

consistent availability of sufficient quantities;

resources to enable access to appropriately nutritious food;

knowledge of nutrition and safe handling for appropriate use.

Island communities are at risk of food insecurity, being highly dependent on fisheries, soil quality, and high levels of imports. Natural disasters can create short and long term crises for island populations.

Incomplete commodity trade information can also contribute to food insecurity with businesses and individuals vulnerable to unfair pricing.

Opportunities

Improved agriculture sustainability and food security has already been attributed to improved Internet access to rural African communities, yet the Pacific Islands region has not been able to fully enjoy the same developments.

Tanzania’s ‘First Mile Project’ recruits market investigators to call farmers with market prices and has improved incomes for primary producers (see Reference B below). A modernised version of this in the Pacific, with an independent body updating local, regional, and global market prices online would streamline access to this information and improve outcomes for producers and consumers.

In general, internet access can improve shared understanding of locally-available food resources, production capability and nutrition diet benefits from local resources. It can also assist the optimisation of food sourcing and the matching of supply and demand, optimising the resources available to the community.

Disaster Recovery

When it comes to natural disasters impacting food security, broadband internet access to all communities can also provide vital assistance:

Internet capabilities will allow for early warning systems, giving communities time to stock-pile or better protect existing food supplies in the event of natural disasters.

Widely accessible broadband speed Internet would also allow for better emergency response distribution as communities would be better able to communicate the needs in their area.

Conclusion

Access to affordable broadband for all communities, together with systems and skills capacity growth, represents an important investment for long term food security across the Pacific Islands region and a viable future for all communities.